Pet Import to Thailand: Dog and Cat Complete Guide (2026)

Step 2 — Rabies Vaccination

A current rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs and cats. Requirements:

• Vaccination administered after microchip implantation.
• Vaccination administered at least 21 days but not more than 12 months before arrival (some 3-year vaccines are accepted if explicitly endorsed by the manufacturer; the DLD looks at the booster expiry date on the certificate).
• Vaccination details recorded on the official vaccination certificate with the microchip number, vaccine brand, batch number, and veterinarian's signature.

Step 3 — Rabies Titer Test (Where Required)

Pets coming from countries the DLD does not classify as rabies-free or rabies-controlled (e.g., parts of Africa, Southeast Asia other than Thailand, and some parts of South America) must show an RNAT test result of ≥0.5 IU/ml, from a sample drawn at least 30 days after rabies vaccination, analysed at an OIE-approved laboratory, and dated within 12 months of arrival. The DLD periodically publishes country lists; check current status before booking flights.

Step 4 — Import Permit (R7) via e-Movement

The R7 import permit is the heart of the process. Apply before travel through the DLD's e-Movement online system (or, in fallback paper form, at the DLD's Bangkok headquarters). Submit:

• Owner's passport (bio page + Thai visa stamp if applicable).
• Pet's microchip number, breed, sex, date of birth, and colour.
• Rabies vaccination certificate (scanned).
• RNAT laboratory report (where required).
• Health certificate issued by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin, dated within 10 days of departure.
• Flight details — airline, flight number, arrival date and time, airport (BKK / DMK / CNX / HKT).
• Quarantine address in Thailand (the owner's residence is normally accepted).

The DLD issues the R7 permit electronically, usually within 3-7 working days. Print at least three copies — one for the airline, one for the AQ office on arrival, and one for your records.

Step 5 — Airline Booking

• In-cabin pets: Allowed by some carriers (small dogs and cats under ~7 kg including the carrier). Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, and several international carriers offer in-cabin pet travel on selected routes.
• Cargo (manifest): Most pets larger than the in-cabin limit travel as checked baggage (where allowed and on the same flight as the owner) or manifest cargo (booked separately, often through a pet shipper). The cargo route requires an IATA-compliant crate, sufficient ventilation, and exact weight/dimension declarations.
• Pre-clearance: Many airlines insist on seeing the R7 permit + health certificate + rabies vaccination before check-in. Have all originals at the airport.

Step 6 — Arrival at the Animal Quarantine Office

On landing, the pet is offloaded to the Animal Quarantine Office (ด่านกักกันสัตว์) at the arrival airport — at Suvarnabhumi this is the Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station in the cargo area. Procedure:

1. Owner clears immigration and customs personally.
2. Owner proceeds (often via the cargo terminal at BKK) to the AQ office with all originals: R7 permit, health certificate, vaccination certificate, RNAT result, passport.
3. AQ vet inspects the pet, scans the microchip, checks paperwork.
4. Fees typically THB 1,000-5,000 depending on services (re-export, transit, simple inspection differ).
5. Where everything is in order, the AQ issues a release order — the pet goes home with the owner the same day.
6. Where paperwork is non-compliant or the pet shows clinical signs of disease, the AQ may detain the pet for observation in the quarantine facility. Owner pays detention fees.

Banned and Restricted Species, and Breed Restrictions

• CITES-listed species require additional permits under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019). Many exotic pets — primates, certain reptiles, certain parrots — are restricted or prohibited.
• Birds (parrots, raptors) face CITES + avian influenza controls; movement is much harder than for dogs and cats and often impossible from countries with current HPAI outbreaks.
• Breed-specific restrictions: Thailand itself does not maintain a federal banned-breed list for dogs, but local authorities and some condominium juristic persons restrict specific breeds. Transit countries sometimes impose breed restrictions (e.g., certain pit-bull variants), which can disrupt routing.
• Rabbits, rodents, and small mammals have separate DLD rules; many countries' export certifications are not recognised, making import difficult or impossible.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these traps:

• Vaccinating before microchipping. The vaccination is not linked to the animal and must be redone — losing weeks.
• Booking flights before the R7 issues. If the permit is delayed and you fly anyway, the pet can be refused and returned to origin at owner's cost.
• Letting the health certificate go stale. The "issued within 10 days of departure" rule is enforced strictly.
• Using a non-ISO microchip without a reader plan. The AQ may scan and find nothing — extra delays.
• Skipping the RNAT where required. No titer = no entry from non-rabies-free countries; the pet returns on the next flight.
• Assuming Suvarnabhumi has 24/7 AQ. The AQ office's working hours can mean overnight kennel fees for late-arriving flights; book daytime arrivals where possible.

FAQs

1. How long should I plan ahead?

Minimum 4-6 months if your country requires RNAT testing; 2-3 months if you are coming from a rabies-free country with simpler paperwork. Last-minute imports nearly always go wrong.

2. Is home quarantine required after arrival?

With complete paperwork, dogs and cats are normally released without home quarantine. Non-compliant pets may be detained at the AQ facility at owner's cost until issues are resolved or the pet is re-exported.

3. Can I bring more than one pet?

Yes. Each animal needs its own R7 permit, microchip, vaccination record, and (where applicable) titer test. Some airlines limit the number of pets per passenger per flight.

4. What about emotional-support or service animals?

Thailand does not recognise emotional-support animals for waiver purposes. Service dogs (e.g., guide dogs for visually impaired travellers) follow the standard import process; airlines have their own accessibility procedures.

5. Can I re-export my pet later?

Yes. Re-export from Thailand requires a similar health certificate process — vet check at the DLD, plus the destination country's import paperwork (e.g., EU TRACES, US APHIS). Plan 1-2 months ahead.

Related Reading

• Moving to Thailand: Shipping and Customs Guide
• Yellow Tabian Baan for Foreigners
• Pink ID Card for Long-Stay Foreigners
• Path to Permanent Residence in Thailand
• SIM Card Registration in Thailand